Working in the Diabetes Space: Introducing CDCES

People often assume that having diabetes automatically makes you want to go into medicine. “You should be a doctor!” is something you might have heard growing up. Not everyone wants to work with clients, and many diabetes-friendly careers and jobs are available without being in medicine or involved in direct patient care. 

What are my options?

Pharmaceutical and diabetes device manufacturing benefits from hiring a person with diabetes to represent or share their lived experience. You don’t have to work in a hospital to use your expertise to help shape the future of diabetes. Some examples of non-medical careers include:

• Coordinator
• Patient services
• Clinical Territory Manager
• Medical Science Liaison Manager
• VP of Clinical Strategy
• Head of Advocacy and Government Affairs
• Director of Global Learning and Development

Diabetes is a rapidly changing field of medicine. As technology and medical care advances, organizations, industries, and government agencies need people with full and in-depth knowledge of diabetes care. Becoming a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) helps potential employers quickly recognize your knowledge and understanding. 

What is a CDCES?

A CDCES (Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, aka “diabetes educator”) is a national certification that ensures professionals are knowledgeable about the varied and changing demands in diabetes care. A CDCES is a professional diabetes advocate with a deep understanding, empathy, and the ability to communicate the unique demands of living with a chronic condition.

What Do Diabetes Care and Education Specialists Do?

These amazing peeps provide diabetes education by: 

• Working in hospital or clinic settings, leading group classes or having 1:1 appointments to review data, medication or device instruction, or simply checking in and answering questions. 
• Offering training or giving talks in the community, raising diabetes awareness at large
• Being employed by a diabetes device or tech company conducting research, doing in-home or clinic training, or working as a local sales representative or trainer. 
• Serving on a committee or local board to provide input, write articles increasing the visibility of specific diabetes at the community or national level (Medicaid or CGMS use in insurance) 
• Work in government agencies and businesses to identify gaps and meet market demands for people with diabetes. 

Regardless of the actual setting of “where you work,” the CDCES is a specialist, meaning you work primarily with people living with diabetes.  Although you might think living with diabetes qualifies you to be a CDCES, there’s actually a bit more to that. 

First, consider if becoming a CDCES would fit naturally into your already established career. Most CDCES people consist of nurses and dietitians, but that certainly doesn’t mean that is the path you need to take. The certifying organization CBDCE has expanded the range of backgrounds, making it easier for those with a public health or exercise science degree to work towards the certification.  

Who Can Become A CDCES?

You may be surprised to learn that any licensed healthcare professional can become a CDCES, including:

• Clinical psychologist
• Occupational therapist
• Optometrist
• Pharmacist
• Physical therapist
• Physician (M.D. or D.O.)
• Podiatrist
• Registered nurse (includes nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists)

Or those with current registration or certification.

• Dietitian or dietitian nutritionist holding active registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration
• Physician Assistant holding active registration with the NCCPA. 
• Exercise physiologist holding active certification as an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP®)
• Health educator holding active certification as a Master Certified Health Education Specialist from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing

Diabetes care is individualized to each person, and it is essential to learn the many ways diabetes is managed. Additionally, to become a CDCES, you will be asked to verify that you have worked within the diabetes space. You can click here to learn more about the required hours. 

Choosing to become a CDCES shows your knowledge and commitment to improving the lives of people with diabetes. You now know what this certification is, how it helps, and what is needed to become a CDCES. 

Salary

In 2024, ZipRecruiter listed the average salary for a Nurse CDCES was $101,000 with an income range at the 25th percentile as $68,500 to the 75th percentile as $120,000. Glass Door reported the average salary for a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDCES) in the United States in 2024 was $75,285 per year, with an estimated total pay of $114,937. The total pay range for a CDCES is $91,000–$148,000 per year, with a median total pay of $115,000.

Registered Dietitians who are CDCES typically make 30% more than those without it. The estimated total pay for an RD-CDCES was $89,827 annually, with an average salary of $78,644 annually.

Ok, how do I get there? 

Track Your Hours

While working on your education or clinical hours, get involved in the diabetes community. Pick up the phone and cold-call the department at a hospital where you would love to work. Ask them if you can volunteer or write a blog. Get involved, stay involved, and keep track of your hours. Remember, depending on your pathway, it takes 1000 -2000 hours over a five-year period before you can sit for the CDCES! 

Leverage all the Resources

As you work towards your future as a CDCES, stay involved and take advantage of the resources offered by organizations like The Diabetes Link. For example, the NextGen program is an amazing opportunity to get firsthand experience and networking opportunities in the diabetes field. Follow along with colleagues and fellow aspiring CDCESs on their own pathway and support one another!

Two organizations to help you

CBDCE is the organization you will contact leading up to the certification. They provide information to help you study. Once you become certified, you will renew your certification every five years. The CBDCE has amazing scholarship and mentorship programs for young professionals to get involved in to help support their career journey and covers the full cost of the exam itself. So bookmark this link!

ADCES is the association you join once you become a CDCES. They offer opportunities like online classes, practice exams, tutorials, podcasts, local networking events, professional development days, and more! They offer an annual meeting each summer and a membership structure that gives you access to all the tools you need to stay afloat in diabetes education once you are certified. 

You got this!

Now you know how becoming a CDCES can leverage your diabetes experience and increase your income. Becoming a CDCES requires you to get involved in the diabetes community, start tracking your hours, visit the CBDCE to learn more about the certification exam, and check out the many learning resources available at ADCES.